Working Families Party gives its endorsement to Councilwoman Rose of Staten Island

City Councilwoman Debi Rose has been endorsed by the Working Families Party.Advance File Photo

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - While an investigation continues into its actions in the 2009 campaigns, the labor-friendly Working Families Party has endorsed City Councilwoman Debi Rose and 17 other Council candidates this year.

"I accept the endorsement of the Working Families Party because of the thousands of hardworking New Yorkers their member unions represent, many of whom reside in the 49th Council District," Ms. Rose said in a statement.

A special prosecutor appointed by the Office of Court Administration in February issued subpoenas to party officials.

At the heart of the case are allegations that the party gave improper, cut-rate campaign help through its consulting arm, Data and Field Services, to a number of candidates running in 2009, including Ms. Rose (D-North Shore).

As for the new subpoenas, Ms. Rose said, "The current litigation is between the Working Families Party and the Office of Court Administration. Neither I nor my campaign is a party in it. I have no comment on it."

A related lawsuit brought by a group of Republicans against Ms. Rose was settled in 2010, with her campaign agreeing to pay $8,525 for the consulting work.

At the time, Ms. Rose told the Advance she had paid fair-market value for the consulting services.

District Attorney Daniel Donovan, a Republican, recused himself from the WFP case in a 2010 letter, which has remained sealed to the public. ---Follow @siadvance on Twitter